Putneymead Group Medical Practice - About medical tests and how to get your results

Test Results

To collect your test results please call our results line between

1- 2:30 pm on 020 8394 5452

This service is available Monday-Friday.

The practice has a strict confidentiality and data protection policy and we will only release test results to the person who has had the test unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data to others or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice.

Results will usually be available within the following timescales:

Urine samples: 3-4 days

Blood tests, Swab tests and Stool samples: 7 days

Ultrasound and X-Ray results: 1-2 weeks

Please note it is your responsibility to contact us to check your results, either by telephone as above or by making a telephone appointment to discuss them with your doctor or nurse if they have specifically asked you to do this. You will be advised at this stage whether any further action is needed.

Blood Tests

blood_tests_4 A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

assess your general state of health
confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm, and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand.

If hyour child needs a blood test please speak to your GP as our phlebotomists do nto take blood from children. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

X-Ray

doctor examining an x-ray An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.

Further Information

Patient Group

Survey Report

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services